Inline drain trap

ABSTRACT

An inline drain trap is provided including an inlet component having an inlet housing element, an inlet passage connectable to an upper standard drain pipe within a plumbing fixture, an outlet component having an outlet housing element engageable with the inlet housing element to form a housing, an outlet passage extending downward from the outlet housing element and connectable to a lower standard drain pipe within the plumbing fixture, a trap cup sized for concentric positioning between the outlet housing element and the inlet passage, and a plurality of support struts extending radially outward from an outer diameter of the trap cup for maintaining vertical positioning and concentricity of the trap cup within the housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a drain trap and more particularly to aninline drain trap for installation between an upper drain pipe and alower drain pipe.

BACKGROUND

In buildings, drain traps are used in interior plumbing fixtures toblock sewer gas entry into the building. Conventionally, such draintraps use bent sections of drainage pipe (e.g., in a U, S, Q, or Pconfiguration) to create a locally tortuous drainage flowpath to retainsome fluid within the trap section of the drainage pipes. By retainingthe fluid, the drainage trap prevents sewer gases from backflowing upthe drainage pipe and into the building via the plumbing fixture whilestill permitting waste materials to pass through. To varying degrees,such conventional drain traps all require extension of the drain pipesin an out of plane (i.e. horizontal) direction relative to the otherwisevertical drainage flowpath. In particular, the trap must extendhorizontally by multiple drainage pipe diameters to accommodate thebending radius and vertically co-located sections of drainage pipeassociated with the tortuous flowpath of the trap.

Such configurations work well where the drainage pipes are hidden bylarge cabinets and/or extend, by design, into a wall before flowingdownward. However, narrow plumbing fixtures such as, for example, afreestanding pedestal sink, do not generally have sufficient width ordepth to accommodate such conventional drain traps within the pedestal.Accordingly, plumbers installing such fixtures must either detract fromthe visual appeal of the fixture e.g., by permitting the trap toprotrude horizontally outward from the pedestal) or create expensive andunwieldly workarounds such as installing the trap in a floor underneaththe pedestal, thereby hiding the trap but also severely restrictingaccess to the trap in the event of a clog or other maintenance issue.

SUMMARY

An inline drain trap is provided for installation inline between anupper drain pipe portion and a lower drain pipe portion which arearrayed around a longitudinal axis includes an outer housing which isarrayed around the longitudinal axis. The inline drain trap includes anouter housing which includes an upper housing portion for connectingwith the upper drain pipe portion, a lower housing portion forconnecting with the lower drain pipe portion, and a middle housingportion located between the upper housing portion and the lower housingportion. A trap cup is located inside the outer housing, andcup-to-housing support struts are connected between the trap cup and themiddle housing portion for supporting the trap cup inside the outerhousing. The trap cup is located along the longitudinal axis. Upperhousing-to-pipe connecting means are located at the upper housingportion for connecting the outer housing to the upper drain pipeportion, and lower housing-to-pipe connecting means are located at thelower housing portion for connecting the outer housing to the lowerdrain pipe portion.

Preferably, the upper housing portion includes an externally threadedportion, and the upper housing-to-pipe connecting means include aninternally threaded connector nut and a compressible O-ring received inthe internally threaded connector nut. Similarly, the lower housingportion includes an externally threaded portion, and the lowerhousing-to-pipe connecting means include an internally threadedconnector nut and a compressible O-ring received in the internallythreaded connector nut.

Preferably, the trap cup is positioned inside the outer housingsymmetrically around the longitudinal axis. In addition, four of thecup-to-housing support struts are located at ninety-degree intervalsaround the longitudinal axis.

In one embodiment, an inline drain trap is provided. The inline draintrap includes an inlet component. The inlet component includes an inlethousing element. The inlet component also includes an inlet passageextending upward from the inlet housing element toward a first end andextending downward from the inlet housing element toward a second end,the first end of the inlet passage connectable to an upper standarddrain pipe within a plumbing fixture. The inline drain trap alsoincludes an outlet component. The outlet component includes an outlethousing element engageable with the inlet housing element to form ahousing enclosing the second end of the inlet passage. The outletcomponent also includes an outlet passage extending downward from theoutlet housing element and connectable to a lower standard drain pipewithin the plumbing fixture. The outlet component also includes aplurality of support elements extending inward from an interior surfaceof the outlet housing element. The inline drain trap also includes atrap insert sized for removable placement within the outlet housingelement of the outlet component. The trap insert includes a trap cupsized for concentric positioning between the outlet housing element andthe inlet passage, wherein the second end of the inlet passage extendsinto the trap cup within the housing, The trap insert also includesspacer ring disposed concentrically around and spaced apart from thetrap cup and having a diameter sized to engage the plurality of supportelements and the interior surface of the outlet housing element tomaintain vertical positioning and concentricity of the trap cup withinthe housing. The inline drain trap also includes a plurality of supportstruts extending radially between an outer diameter of the trap cup andan inner diameter of the spacer ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and the above objects as well asobjects other than those set forth above will become more apparent aftera study of the following detailed description thereof Such descriptionmakes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an inline drain trap installed inlinebetween an upper standard drain pipe and a lower standard drain pipewithin a plumbing fixture, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2A is side view of an inline drain trap in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional side view of the inline drain trap of FIG.2A, taken along a longitudinal axis of the inline drain trap inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional top view of the inline drain trap of FIG.2A, taken through an outlet housing element of the inline drain trap inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2D is an exploded view of the inline drain trap of FIG. 2A inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of an inlet component of theinline drain trap of FIGS. 2A-2D in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of an outlet component of theinline drain trap of FIGS. 2A-2D in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a trap insert of the inlinedrain trap of FIGS. 2A-2D in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of an inline drain trap having anintegral trap cup in accordance with various embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereofare explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodimentsand examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and detailed in the following description. It should be notedthat the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawnto scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with otherembodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if notexplicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components andtechniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure theembodiments of the disclosure. The examples used herein are intendedmerely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the disclosuremay be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art topractice the embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the examplesand embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope ofthe disclosure. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numeralsrepresent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The invention is directed to an inline drain trap for plumbing fixtures.Although not restricted to any particular plumbing application, onesuitable application that the invention may be used in is in connectionwith pedestal sinks or other low profile plumbing fixtures. The use ofthe inline drain trap in this application will be described to providecontext but use of inline drain traps is not limited to thatapplication.

Referring to FIG. 1, an inline drain trap 10 is provided for inlineinstallation between an upper standard drain pipe 11 and a lowerstandard drain pipe 13 extending along a common longitudinal axis withina plumbing fixture 12. The inline drain trap 10 extends along alongitudinal axis 14 which, when the inline drain trap 10 is installedbetween the upper standard drain pipe 11 and the lower standard drainpipe 13, is aligned with the common longitudinal axis. The inline draintrap 10 includes an inlet component 16 for connecting to the upperstandard drain pipe 11 and an outlet component 18 for connecting to boththe lower standard drain pipe 13 and the inlet component 16. In someembodiments, a sealed connection between the inlet component 16 and theoutlet component 18 can be aided by a sealing element 20 (e.g., ano-ring as shown) interposed between the inlet component 16 and theoutlet component 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2D and 4, the inline drain trap 10 includesthe inlet component 16 having an inlet housing element 43 configured forconnection to an outlet housing element 53 of the outlet component 18 toform a housing 17. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2D, the inlethousing element 43 and the outlet housing element 53 can be configuredfor threaded connection. For example, as shown in FIG. 2D, the inlethousing element 43 includes external threads 44 for engaging withinternal threads 54 of the outlet housing element 53. As further shownin FIGS. 2A-2D, sealing of the connection between the inlet housingelement 43 and the outlet housing element 53 can be aided by placementof the sealing element 20 around the external threads 44 of the inlethousing element 43 for compression by outlet housing element 53 uponthreaded engagement therebetween.

Although described herein as having a separable threaded engagement ando-ring configuration, it will be apparent in view of this disclosurethat any suitable configuration providing sealed engagement between theinlet housing element 43 and the outlet housing element 53 can be usedin connection with various embodiments. For example, to the extent theinline drain trap is to be implemented as a disposable cartridge anddisassembly is not required, the sealing element can be permanentadhesive or thermal weld provided between the inlet housing element 43and the outlet housing element 53. Also for example, in someembodiments, rather than threads, the inlet housing element 43 and theoutlet housing element 53 can be configured for one or more of a pressfit, a compression flange connection, a welded flange connection, or anyother suitable configuration.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the inlet component 16 also includes an inletpassage 41 extending along the longitudinal axis 14 concentricallythrough the inlet housing element 43, including upward from the inlethousing element 43 toward a first end 41 a and downward from the inlethousing element 43 toward a second end 41 b. The first end 41 a of theinlet passage 41 can generally be configured to connect to the upperstandard drain pipe 11 within the plumbing fixture 12. For example, asshown, the first end 41 a is provided with external threads forconnection, for example, to an internal thread of the upper standarddrain pipe 11 or a connector nut. However, it will be apparent in viewof this disclosure that any configuration for connecting the first end41 a to the upper standard drain pipe 11 can be used in accordance withvarious embodiments. For example, the first end 41 a, in someembodiments, can include external threads, internal threads, a connectorflange, or be sized to receive the upper standard drain pipe 11 thereinby slip or press fit.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the second end 41 b of the inlet passage 41, whenthe inlet housing element 43 and the outlet housing element 53 areassembled to form the housing 17, extends downward from the inlethousing element 43 into the outlet housing element 53 such that thesecond end 41 b is enclosed by the assembled housing 17.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2D and 5, the inline drain trap 10 alsoincludes the outlet component 18 having the outlet housing element 53configured for connection to the inlet housing element 43 of the inletcomponent 16 to form the housing 17 as described above. The outlethousing element 53 also includes a plurality of trap cup supportelements 55 configured to support a trap cup within the housing 17 aswill be discussed in greater detail below.

The outlet component 18 also includes an outlet passage 51 extendingdownward from the outlet housing element 53 toward an outlet end 51 a.The outlet end 51 a of the outlet passage 51 can generally be configuredto connect to the lower standard drain pipe 13 within the plumbingfixture 12. For example, the outlet end 51 a can include externalthreads for connection, for example, to an internal thread of the lowerstandard drain pipe 13 or a connector nut, internal threads, a connectorflange, or can be sized to be received in the lower standard drain pipe11 by slip or press fit.

The inline drain trap 10 also includes a trap insert 60 sized to beremovably insertable into the outlet housing element 53 such that thetrap insert 60 rests upon and is supported within the outlet housingelement 53 by the support elements 55. The trap insert 60 includes atrap cup 61, a spacer ring 63 disposed concentrically around and spacedapart from the trap cup 61, and a plurality of support struts 65extending radially between an outer diameter of the trap cup 61 and aninner diameter of the spacer ring 63.

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the trap insert 60 is inserted into the outlethousing element 53, a lower surface of the spacer ring 63 engages withthe upper surfaces 55 a of the support elements 55 while a bottomsurface of the trap cup 61 engages with a lower portion of the supportelements 55 to establish vertical positioning of the trap insert 60within the housing 17. Additionally, an outer diameter of the spacerring 63 is sized to engage with an inner diameter of the outlet housingelement 53 in order to maintain a concentric position of the trap insert60 and (via the support struts 65) the trap cup 61 about thelongitudinal axis 14 between the outlet housing element 53 and the inletpassage 41.

Generally, the inline drain trap 10 can be assembled by inserting thetrap insert 60, including the trap cup 61, inside the outlet housingelement 53 of the outlet component 18. By connection of the inlethousing element 43 to the outlet housing element 53, the housing 17 isformed to enclose and retain the trap insert 60 and the second end 41 bof the inlet passage 41 is positioned within the trap cup 61. Theassembled inline drain trap 10 can then be installed at the first end 41a of the inlet passage 41 to the upper standard drain pipe 11 and at theoutlet end 51 a to the lower standard drain pipe 51.

Alternatively, referring now to FIG. 6, in some embodiments, analternative inline drain trap 70 can be provided wherein the trap cup 71and support struts 75 are integrally formed with the outlet housingelement 53. In such embodiments, because the trap cup 71 and supportstruts 75 are permanently affixed within the housing 17, no supportelements 55 or spacer rings 63 are required. Such embodiments cangenerally be simpler and less expensive to manufacture. Embodimentshaving the integral trap cup 71 can be used, for example, where thedrain trap is envisioned as a replaceable cartridge. However, suchstructures are generally more difficult to clean and maintain becausethe trap cup 71 is not removable from the housing 17 and cavities in thehousing beneath the trap cup 71 may be inaccessible.

Thus, upon completion of assembly and installation, the inlet passage 41forms an innermost drainage flowpath and delivers fluid from the upperstandard drain pipe into the trap cup 61. The drainage flow then fillsthe trap cup 61, thereby submerging the second end 41 b of the inletpassage 41 to effectively blog the backflow of sewer gasses. As the trapcup 61 fills, the redirected drainage fluid flows upward and out of thetop of the trap cup 61, wherein the flow is redirected again such thatit flows downward between the spacer ring 63 and the trap cup 61 andinto the outlet passage 51 which, in turn, delivers the drainage flow tothe lower standard drain pipe 13 for continued drainage.

Generally, where, for example, the plumbing fixture 12 is a pedestalsink, the upper standard drain pipe 11 can be connected to and extenddownward from the bottom of the sink. The inline drain trap 10 can bepositioned inline between the upper standard drain pipe 11 and the lowerstandard drain pipe 13, around the longitudinal axis 14. The upperstandard drain pipe 11, the inline drain trap 10 of the invention, andthe lower standard drain pipe 13 fit cleanly inside the pedestal whichhides all of the upper standard drain pipe 11, the inline drain trap 10,and the lower standard drain pipe 13 from view. This result is in sharpcontrast with a conventional S-shaped drain trap which cannot be hiddeninside of a pedestal. Additionally, the inline drain trap 10 of thisdisclosure provides an easily replaceable cartridge-style drain trapthat can be easily removed for maintenance or replacement, therebysaving both time and expense, as well as improving the visual appeal ofthe plumbing fixture 12.

More specifically, to locate a hole in the floor for reception of thelower standard drain pipe 13, a plumb line (not shown) can be droppedfrom the center of the upper standard drain pipe 11 to contact thefloor. At the point of contact on the floor, a hole can be drilled inthe floor for receiving of the lower standard drain pipe 13. In thisway, the upper standard drain pipe 11 and the lower standard drain pipe13 lie along the same straight line of the longitudinal axis 14.

Once the hole is present in the floor, to install the inline drain trap10, an upper compressible O-ring (not shown) can be placed inside anupper internally threaded connector nut (not shown) and the upperinternally threaded connector nut is screwed loosely onto an externallythreaded portion of the inlet component 16. Then, a lower compressibleO-ring (not shown) can be placed inside a lower internally threadedconnector nut, and the lower internally threaded connector nut can bescrewed loosely onto an externally threaded portion of the outletcomponent 18.

Then, the inline drain trap 10 can be raised onto the upper standarddrain pipe 11 so that the bottom of the upper standard drain pipe 11 issituated in the trap cup 61. Then, the upper internally threadedconnector nut can be screwed further onto the inlet component 16 so thatthe upper compressible O-ring is squeezed between the inlet component 16and the upper standard drain pipe 11 to provide a water-tight sealbetween the inline drain trap 10 and the upper standard drain pipe 11.

Then, the lower standard drain pipe 13 can be raised into the outletcomponent 18. Then, the lower internally threaded connector nut isfurther screwed onto the outlet component 18 so that the lowercompressible O-ring is squeezed between the outlet component 18 and thelower standard drain pipe 13, thereby providing a water-tight sealbetween the inline drain trap 10 and the lower standard drain pipe 13.At this point, installation of the inline drain trap 10 of the inventionbetween the upper standard drain pipe 11 and the lower standard drainpipe 13 is complete.

In use, as shown in FIG. 3, when water drains out from the sink, thedraining water exits from the bottom of the upper standard drain pipe 11and enters the trap cup 61. Shortly, the trap cup 61 is filled tooverflowing, and the overflowing water spills over the top of the trapcup 61 and falls into the inline drain trap 10 and flows downward towardthe outlet component 18 and out from the inline drain trap 10 and intothe lower standard drain pipe 13.

Any of the components off the inline drain trap 10 as described hereincan be made from any suitable material including, for example, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene (PET), durable rubber, metal, other plasticmaterials, or combinations thereof.

It will be apparent in view of this disclosure that a “standard drainpipe”, as used herein, can be of any diameter suitable for use as adrain pipe such as, for example, drainage pipes having a diameter ofabout 1.5 inches, 2 inches, 3 inches, or 4 inches or any other sizedrain pipe that comports with building codes, building regulations,professional building practices, or other standard setting bodies. Moregenerally, “standard drain pipe” indicates a non-custom size and furtherindicates that the inline drain trap does not directly connect to theplumbing fixture itself (e.g., a sink basin drain) but rather to astandard drain pipe downstream.

While the foregoing description of the invention enables one of ordinaryskill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best modethereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate theexistence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specificembodiments and examples herein. The above-described embodiments of thepresent invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations,modifications and variations may be effected to the particularembodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from thescope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appendedhereto. The invention is therefore not limited by the above describedembodiments and examples.

What is claimed is:
 1. An in-line drain trap assembly comprising: aninlet component including: a inlet housing element, and an inlet passageextending upward from the inlet housing element toward a first end andextending downward from the inlet housing element toward a second end,the first end of the inlet passage connectable to an upper standarddrain pipe within a plumbing fixture; an outlet component including: aoutlet housing element engageable with the inlet housing element to forma housing enclosing the second end of the inlet passage, an outletpassage extending downward from the outlet housing element andconnectable to a lower standard drain pipe within the plumbing fixture,and a plurality of support elements extending inward from an interiorsurface of the outlet housing element; and a trap insert sized forremovable placement within the outlet housing element of the outletcomponent, the trap insert including: a trap cup sized for concentricpositioning between the outlet housing element and the inlet passage,wherein the second end of the inlet passage extends into the trap cupwithin the housing, a spacer ring disposed concentrically around andspaced apart from the trap cup and having a diameter sized to engage theplurality of support elements and the interior surface of the outlethousing element to maintain vertical positioning and concentricity ofthe trap cup within the housing, and a plurality of support strutsextending radially between an outer diameter of the trap cup and aninner diameter of the spacer ring.
 2. An in-line drain trap assemblycomprising: an inlet component including: a inlet housing element, andan inlet passage extending upward from the inlet housing element towarda first end and extending downward from the inlet housing element towarda second end, the first end of the inlet passage connectable to an upperstandard drain pipe within a plumbing fixture; an outlet componentincluding: a outlet housing element engageable with the inlet housingelement to form a housing enclosing the second end of the inlet passage,and an outlet passage extending downward from the outlet housing elementand connectable to a lower standard drain pipe within the plumbingfixture; a trap cup sized for concentric positioning between the outlethousing element and the inlet passage, wherein the second end of theinlet passage extends into the trap cup within the housing; and aplurality of support struts extending radially between an outer diameterof the trap cup and an inner diameter of the outlet housing element tomaintain vertical positioning and concentricity of the trap cup withinthe housing.